WHO WILL BE NEW ZEALAND’S ULTIMATE MĀORI WARRIOR?

31 January 2007

New Zealand ’s toughest reality television series – TOA: TOA O AOTEAROA – returns to Māori Television on Thursday February 28 at 9.30 PM.

The show pits the ancient against the avant garde, the gifted against the experienced, and after many grueling weeks, comes up with a top warrior winner who takes home a $10,000 prize and the title of TOA: TOA O AOTEAROA champion.

In this second series, 12 men skilled in the use of the ancient taiaha weapon are taken to an isolated, secret location to be pushed to their limits – physically and mentally. Challenges test their skill, strength, stamina and agility and determines the two warriors who must fight each other in a full contact taiaha duel.

This battle is held on a specially constructed marae where these disputes were traditionally resolved. There are four, two-minute bouts and the opponents score points for full hits to the body, limbs and head. The warrior with the least amount of points at the end of the rounds is deemed to have lost.

Ranging in age from 17 to 57, the competitors hail from all over New Zealand. They are: Tua Hekenui (Ngāti Tūwharetoa), Reweti Te Mete (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngaiterangi), Te Whare Kotua Morrison-Hare (Te Arawa, Tūhoe), Joel Buck (Te Arawa, Whakatōhea), Douglas Pini Ihaia (Ngāti Rangitihi), Raimona Inia (Te Arawa, Ngāti Tarāwhai), Poutapu Tame Strickland Winikerei (Ngāti Raukawa), Brendon Martin (Te Rarawa), Tipene Rangihuna (Ngāti Porou), Warren Brian (Ngāpuhi), Anaru Keogh (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Maniopoto) and defending champion Owen Mitai-Wells (Te Arawa, Ngāti Tūwharetoa).

Weaponary master Wetini Mitai-Ngatai (Te Arawa) returns as the judge, as does referee Tukiterangi Curtis (Ngāti Rongomai). Producer Reuben Collier of Rotorua-based Māui Productions says there’s been no shortage of talented taiaha exponents coming forward for the second series of TOA: TOA O AOTEAROA.

“People now know what to expect after seeing the first series and they can judge for themselves whether they have what it takes,” Reuben says. “We had one contestant whose wife entered him after he sat and critiqued every competitor in the first series and one who came all the way from Sydney. But it has meant a higher calibre of contestants for this series.”

The Māui Production producers designed the full body armour worn by the warriors. It includes a fibre glass helmet, steel face cage, padded leather gloves and a chest plate. “Make no mistake, the taiaha is a weapon designed to inflict maximum damage. It’s easy to see how one warrior could defeat large groups of attackers.”

Join these brave contestants on their journey of a lifetime when TOA: TOA O AOTEAROA premieres on Māori Television on Thursday February 28 at 9.30 PM.

Ends

Sandy Hodge
Kaiwhakaputa (Publicist)
Māori Television
DDI +64 9 539 7009
MOB: +64 21 325 826
EML: sandy.hodge@maoritelevision.com